Assessing Infrared Emissions from Weather Satellites as Earthquake Precursors
Abstract
Recent laboratory experiments by Freund [1] have reported the occurrence of spectral and intensity changes in the infrared radiation emitted from the surface of granite rocks due to the radiative recombination of charge carriers activated in rocks subjected to stress. Near-instantly, upon loading, narrow bands appear centered at 10.75 ?m, 11.36 ?m, and 12.4 ?m, while the remainder of what the remote sensing community considers the long wave infrared region (7.5-10.5?m) remains constant. The current US weather satellites have spectral bands that can observe these different rates of emissivity. GOES 8-11 imagers (VISSR) have a Band 4 (10.2-11.2 ?m) which should have less response to radiative recombination of charge carriers than Band 5 (11.5-12.5 ?m). Similarly, the NOAA 10-16 imagers (AVHRR) have a Band 4 (10.3-11.3 ?m) and Band 5 (11.5-12.5 ?m). Traditionally, scientists have used measurement of the difference brightness temperature between these two bands to identify water vapor, volcanic ash plumes, outgoing long-wave radiation at the top of the atmosphere, and land-surface emissivity (using the "split-window" technique). Here we employ three different types of ratios for both bands on GOES imagery acquired prior to several significant earthquakes that have occurred in California (Parkfield CA (28-SEP-2004), Loma Prieta, CA (18-OCT-1989), Landers, CA (28-JUN-1992), Northridge CA (17-JAN-1994) and Hector Mine CA (16-OCT-1999)). The images acquired every half-hour during the night hours for the 10 days prior-to and 5 days after the event are co-registered and screened for clouds. [1.] F.T. Freund et.al., "Stimulated Mid-IR Emission: Assessing a Pre-Earthquake Indicator", manuscript submitted to JGR-Solid Earth August 2005.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005AGUFM.T43E..08B
- Keywords:
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- 0699 General or miscellaneous;
- 0925 Magnetic and electrical methods (5109);
- 1242 Seismic cycle related deformations (6924;
- 7209;
- 7223;
- 7230);
- 5109 Magnetic and electrical properties (0925);
- 7209 Earthquake dynamics (1242)